Uneven burn

[wethepeople18]

So I went to a local B&M and picked up a stick to smoke this afternoon. It seemed like the whole time that I was smoking it, I was also fighting it trying to keep an even burn.

I lit pre-lit and and lit the cigar evenly with matches. At first, the burn was even but it soon took a spin for the worst.

My question is why did it do this? Was it the quality of the cigar, condition of the cigar, the way I was smoking it, etc?

Any pointers?

[MattB]

My guess would be that it was over humidified, a lot of B&M's keep them pretty "wet" could have also just been a bad stick. Is this something that happens to you often? If so it could be something else.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by MattB

My guess would be that it was over humidified, a lot of B&M's keep them pretty "wet" could have also just been a bad stick. Is this something that happens to you often? If so it could be something else.

[Dom]

It's for this reason that I never smoke something the same day I buy it from a B&M. More times than not it will be over or under humidified and you'll get a bad burn.

Not that I look down on b&m's, it must be hard to keep that many cigars humidified, but I won't smoke something (unless it's a gift from a botl) unless I know it's been in good conditions in my humi/cooler

[defcon3]

I know a gentleman that will microwave his smokes for 15-20 seconds if they are over humidified...

I think he is completely out of his bird so to speak, but he swears by it... Yikes!!!

[Tarks]

I try to rest my sticks a min of at least 2 weeks before smoking.

[defcon3]

Originally Posted by Tarks

I try to rest my sticks a min of at least 2 weeks before smoking.

I do that now too thanks to posts like yours and others on puff...

When I first got my humidor and received samplers, the cigars would taste sour and bitter as I smoked them right upon delivery, I really had no clue they were over-humidified...

What a difference even a few days makes but 1-2 weeks is better...

[wethepeople18]

Originally Posted by defcon3

I know a gentleman that will microwave his smokes for 15-20 seconds if they are over humidified...

I think he is completely out of his bird so to speak, but he swears by it... Yikes!!!

Hmmm...not only would I be scared of destroying the gars but the microwave as well.
I'm not able to post links yet but if you google, 'cigars in microwave', you will come up with a shocking video from metacafe.com. They were using white owls though so maybe with all the chemicals in those sticks, it killed the microwave.

[Phantom57]

Uneven burn is almost always a humidification problem, although, it could be construction. Have read where Cuba has tried microwaving. Understand they just freeze now, so guess it didn't work out.

[defcon3]

Originally Posted by wethepeople18

Hmmm...not only would I be scared of destroying the gars but the microwave as well.
I'm not able to post links yet but if you google, 'cigars in microwave', you will come up with a shocking video from metacafe.com. They were using white owls though so maybe with all the chemicals in those sticks, it killed the microwave.

Again, I think he is nuttier than Chinese chicken salad, but he doesn't light them up prior to drying them out in the microwave if they are over humidified...

I would NEVER EVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER microwave my cigars, some people are just the way they are...

I did see the video wethepeople18, here is the LINK UNREAL!!!

What I wanna know is if it was the cigar being lit, metal in the band, or whatever caused it!?! Holy Smokes!!!

[karmaz00]

try letting them rest at a lower RH for a week, BM tend to over RH them

[Mortanis]

Had a Nub last night that just refused to burn even. I'd even it out with my torch every so often, but the thing was just too wet to get anything out of, and eventually died fully about halfway through and refused all relights. I've started dryboxing sticks before I use them, and hope to see a difference tonight.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by defcon3

I know a gentleman that will microwave his smokes for 15-20 seconds if they are over humidified...

About 1:00 minute in - microwaves are for food ONLY:


I think there are two reasons a cigar could be having burn issues.

-Overhumidification (too wet)
-Cigar is plugged

[FNA]

To the best of my knowledge uneven burn is most often a construction issue, the problem more often occuring in bunching rather than in rolling. Cigars burn evenly because of even draft the length of the cigar.

A cigar will not be over-humidified on just one side.

I'm sure all have seen a cigar that 'boats' once, then smokes fine the rest of the way, or conversely smokes fine untill the last couple inches where a boat appears. Just smoked a 5 Vegas that did the 'butt end boat'. Only overhumidified in the front or rear?

I spent the better part of my cigar smoking life, the first 25 years or so buying from one to a few smokes at a time from shops. I always smoked at least one the day I made my purchase. They sell singles to be smoked.

As to microwaving cigars, several authorities recommend microwaving cigars as a solution to beetle larvae. I don't know.

[ongreystreet]

Most likely poor construction or over humdification.

It's not uncommon to walk into a B&M on a relatively humid morning or day, only to find 2 or 3, sometimes crued, humidifers running non-stop (I know the AC will knock out some of the outside humidity). Your cigar feels fresh and spongey, but it's only because it's right out of the box and into a room being over humidifed.

What's worse then the burn or taste being altered (slightly) is getting a few sticks, putting them in your humidor and having the wrappers crack a few weeks later, and wondering how the B&M keeps them so well, but you can't. Well the truth is they are the ones damaging the wrappers by over humidifying.